In a significant political shift, reformist candidate Dr. Massoud Pezeshkian has emerged victorious in Iran’s presidential election, defeating hardline conservative opponent Saeed Jalili.
The Interior Ministry announced that Dr. Pezeshkian secured a decisive 53.3% of the vote, with over 30 million ballots cast. His rival, Mr. Jalili, garnered 44.3% of the votes.
This election came as a result of a tragic incident in May when former President Ebrahim Raisi and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash. The first round of voting on June 28th saw an unprecedented low turnout of 40%, reflecting widespread disillusionment among the Iranian populace.
Who is Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian?
Dr. Pezeshkian, a 71-year-old heart surgeon and current member of the Iranian parliament, campaigned on a platform of reform and international engagement.
A key aspect of Dr. Pezeshkian’s foreign policy agenda involves renewing the 2015 nuclear deal through constructive negotiations with Western powers. This stance marks a significant departure from the more confrontational approach of recent years.
Pezeshkian’s reputation as a reformist was solidified by his outspoken opposition to the government’s harsh response to the 2009 pro-democracy demonstrations.
His profile rose further in 2022 when he vocally criticized the actions of Iran’s morality police following the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in custody after being arrested for allegedly violating Iran’s strict female dress code.
The incident sparked widespread protests, during which the United Nations reported hundreds of casualties and thousands of arrests as authorities attempted to quell the unrest.
In an interview with Iran’s IRINN TV during the 2022 protests, Pezeshkian made a striking statement:
“It is our fault. We want to implement religious faith through the use of force. This is scientifically impossible.”
After his election, Dr. Pezeshkian took to the social media platform X to issue a call for national solidarity.
“Dear people of Iran, the elections are over and this is just the beginning of our support/work. The difficult path ahead of us will not be paved except with your support, empathy and trust. I extend my hand to you and swear by my dignity that I will not leave you alone on this path. Don’t leave me alone.”
In contrast, Mr. Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator, advocated for maintaining the status quo and has been known for his hardline anti-Western stance. He argued against restoring the nuclear deal, claiming it crossed Iran’s red lines.
The election saw a slight increase in voter participation for the runoff, with 50% turnout compared to the first round’s historic low. However, this figure still indicates considerable voter apathy and discontent.
Two out of 76 Candidates were Approved
Many Iranians chose to boycott the election entirely, citing limited candidate choices and skepticism about the possibility of meaningful change under the current system.
The Guardian Council, a powerful body of clerics and jurists, played a significant role in shaping the election by vetting candidates.
Out of 76 potential candidates, only two were approved to run, leading to criticism from human rights groups about the lack of diversity and the exclusion of candidates deemed insufficiently loyal to the regime.
This election comes on the heels of years of civil unrest, including major anti-regime protests in 2022-2023. The discontent is particularly pronounced among young and middle-class Iranians, many of whom view the establishment with deep mistrust.
“Traitorous Minority”
On Iranian social media, the Persian hashtag “traitorous minority” gained traction, urging citizens to abstain from voting and labeling those who participated as traitors to the cause of reform.
Despite the low turnout and visible discontent, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed suggestions that this represented a rejection of his rule. He stated,
“There are reasons [behind the low turnout] and politicians and sociologists will examine them, but if anyone thinks that those who did not vote are against the establishment, they are plainly wrong.”
In a rare acknowledgment, Ayatollah Khamenei added,
“We listen to them and we know what they are saying and it is not like they are hidden and not seen.”
